Yes, there were always choices. Rodolphus had learned that early on that you either chose to do what was expected and self preserve or you did what you desired and lost everything you had. He'd watched it happen to cousins and family and never could understand why someone would choose to follow the foolishness in their heart over the duty to family. It simply didn't make sense to toss it all away.
"Your brilliant company," he stated mockingly. He didn't really know Draco other than as a cooing child so there was no brilliance there yet to behold. "That is the ego of your father. Perhaps you are more his son than you seemed earlier."